Civic Studies in schools: A lack of citizenship=Lack of voters?

The teaching of civics in some schools nationwide seems to be the topic of much controversy as of late. With more emphasis on reading comprehension and math, it would seem there is little time left to learn it and little money in most school's budgets left to teach it.
Members of the Utah State School Board gave preliminary approval October 8th to a policy that would clarify how parents can opt their children out of state-mandated tests at school, however, for this test, opting out could come at a high price.
State lawmakers this year passed legislation requiring Utah students to pass a civics exam, one administered to those applying for U.S. citizenship, in order to graduate from high school. In the same year, the Legislature approved a bill clarifying the state's opt-out policy to include any state or federally mandated assessment. While the new law allows parents to opt their high school-age children out of taking the civics exam, it doesn't remove the requirement that students pass the exam to get their diploma.
"The consequence with this one associated with current legislation is if they do opt out, they opt out of graduation," said Rich Nye, associate superintendent for data, assessment and accountability at the Utah State Office of Education. https://www.ksl.com/?sid=36870887&nid=148
The case is not so different a few states over. The civics class requirement for high school graduation in Nebraska was redefined by that state's Department of Education. The department formerly required three semesters of social studies; which included one year of American history and a full semester of civics education. That requirement has since been doubled, to six semesters.
Nebraska State Senator Adam Morfeld, who represents district 46 in Lincoln and the founder of a group called Nebraskans for Civic Reform, said since the No Child Left Behind federal educational mandate was implemented in 2001, a more stringent testing protocol has resulted in an increased emphasis on stronger math and reading skills that, as a result, has led local school districts to focus less attention on social studies and civics education.
“If people check out, our democracy will become less representative and as it becomes less representative people become more skeptical of it,” Senator Morfeld said. “So we have to break that cycle, and in order to do that – I believe that the best place to start is with our youth.”
The senator said the facts are clear; all around the country voter turnout is seriously lagging.
“Well everybody’s voting at a lower rate than previous generations including young people – but young people more so than most age demographics.”
In Douglas County alone, voter turnout during general presidential elections has fallen from 79 percent of registered voters in 1992 to just 68 percent bothering to cast a ballot in 2012. University of Nebraska at Omaha political science professor Paul Landow said there is a growing recognition across the country for the need to reinvigorate civics education in the high schools.
“A lot of states are rethinking their government civics education requirements,” Landow said. “Many students, High school graduates and frankly, college students just don’t have a basic understanding of the pieces and parts of American government.”
Senator Morfeld believes civic involvement doesn’t need to start so late in the education of our youth.
“You can go to any of our classrooms, kindergarten through fifth grade even and ask young people, ‘What are things that you really like about your neighborhood’, ‘what are some things you’d like to change.’ And they know and they understand.”

The senator said it’s important for Nebraska (and perhaps all American youth as a whole) youth to understand the processes of the American political system and the importance of voting. But, just as important, is having youth who are engaged and critical thinkers, who take the time to seriously study the issues for themselves and then take action towards solving problems in their community.
http://www.kvnonews.com/2015/10/civics-education-key-to-informed-society-says-nebraska-legislator/